Sourcing hexafluoroethane from China
Hexafluoroethane from China has a 4% base UK duty, with a 0% suspension for eligible unmixed gas. Regulated fluorinated-gas products must be labelled; confirm the attached import control before shipment. Specify impurities and cylinder connections. Cambridge China Bridge sources hexafluoroethane.
4% base duty, with a suspension to zero
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, hexafluoroethane appears as perfluoroethane under 2903 49 30 20 within heading 2903, halogenated derivatives of hydrocarbons. The supplied facts show 4% duty for goods from China and an autonomous suspension to 0.00 %. The suspension excludes mixtures, preparations and products made up of different components containing the substance. No anti-dumping or countervailing measure is recorded. The buying specifications in the table share this tariff line.
The UK Trade Tariff attaches an import control for fluorinated greenhouse gases and an export control for waste. Confirm the applicable import declaration requirement with your customs broker before shipping from China, and ask the broker to confirm the waste-control requirement if the consignment involves waste or a return shipment. Regulated F-gas products must be labelled. Official guidance also requires recording and reporting F-gas imports; confirm how the reporting provisions apply to your annual activity.
Confirm the substance, composition and suspension eligibility through finding your commodity code. Give your broker the chemical identifier 76-16-4 and the batch analysis, including any added gases. For the wider heading, see sourcing hexafluoropropylene from China.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hexafluoroethane, technical-grade unmixed gas | 2903 49 30 20 | 4% | None |
Specify impurities and the cylinder connection
Identify hexafluoroethane, also called perfluoroethane, by its chemical identifier rather than a supplier's grade name alone. Set separate acceptance criteria for assay, moisture, oxygen, nitrogen and other fluorinated compounds. Ask the factory to state its test methods and detection limits, and provide results for the actual filling batch.
Agree the cylinder material, valve connection, outlet cleanliness, net gas mass and return arrangements with the receiving laboratory or process operator. Ask for the cylinder preparation and filling records. Confirm whether your business has UK REACH registration responsibilities before shipment, and arrange testing and certification support around the agreed specification.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative trial batch of unmixed hexafluoroethane in refillable cylinders under 2903 49 30 20, invoiced at £3,500 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,000. Duty at 4% is £240. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £6,240, so it is £1,248. Import taxes total £1,488; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £240 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Identity: match the purchase order, cylinder labels, safety data sheet and batch analysis to hexafluoroethane and chemical identifier 76-16-4.
Analysis: compare actual batch results with the agreed assay and impurity limits; check that the laboratory can measure below those limits.
Cylinders: check serial numbers, valve connections, protective caps, seals, visible damage and net contents against the packing list. Have a competent gas handler investigate suspected leakage.
Documents: match filling batches to cylinder serial numbers, check the regulated F-gas labelling, and obtain your broker's confirmation of the attached import control before dispatch.
Working out your own order? Send us the product on WhatsApp and we reply the same working day: WhatsApp us
What goes wrong
A certificate stating only overall purity can leave moisture or individual contaminants unresolved. A generic certificate may also describe a different filling batch. Ask for batch-specific results and investigate any discrepancy before connecting the delivery to your process.
An incompatible valve prevents connection even when the gas meets specification. Mixed gas supplied against an unmixed order also changes the customs assessment, because the recorded suspension excludes mixtures. Agree the connection drawing and composition in writing, then check both before loading and on arrival.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For repeat volumes, see container programmes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on hexafluoroethane from China?
The supplied tariff facts show 4% base duty under 2903 49 30 20 and a 0.00 % autonomous suspension. The suspension excludes mixtures and preparations. No anti-dumping or countervailing measure is recorded.
Are hexafluoroethane and perfluoroethane the same product?
Hexafluoroethane is also called perfluoroethane. Ask the relevant environmental authority or your customs broker to confirm its status under the fluorinated-gas rules. Match the substance to chemical identifier 76-16-4 and check the actual composition.
What paperwork should I check before importing hexafluoroethane?
Obtain batch analysis, a safety data sheet and a cylinder packing list. Check regulated F-gas labelling and ask your broker to confirm the tariff's import control, reporting position and suspension eligibility.
What should a hexafluoroethane batch certificate show?
Ask for assay, moisture and the agreed individual impurities, with test methods and detection limits. Match the filling batch to the cylinder serial numbers rather than accepting a generic grade certificate.